Is this a 2026 planning approval rate table?

It is a 2026 report based on the latest official MHCLG district planning statistics available at generation time. The underlying decisions cover 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

Does this cover all of the UK?

The official approval-rate ranking uses England district planning authority data. PlanWatch tracks planning portals across the UK, but the comparable MHCLG PS2 approval-rate dataset is England-only.

Can I use this to predict whether my application will be approved?

No. Council approval rates are useful context, but individual decisions depend on planning policy, application type, drawings, site constraints, consultation responses and material planning considerations.

Planning data report - generated 2026-06-06

UK Planning Approval Rates 2026

Name: UK planning approval rates 2026 - England council ranking
Creator: PlanWatch
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Every England district planning authority ranked by approval rate, refusal rate and decision speed using the latest official MHCLG planning statistics.

By Ben Thompson, Founder, PlanWatch. Official source accessed 2026-06-06.

Explore the table Download CSV JSON

England1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

87%

261,678 of 300,645 decisions approved

Authorities ranked

310

307 have at least 50 decisions

Decisions analysed

300,645

Official PS2 decisions

Approval rate

87%

261,678 granted

In-time rate

90.6%

MHCLG PS2 timing columns

Approval rate, every England authority1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

One authorityEngland ratePaler: fewer than 50 decisions

Check live applications near your postcode

Approval rates give council-level context. For a real property decision, start with the live applications and notices around the address you care about.

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What the latest official data shows

Across 310 England district planning authorities in the latest MHCLG PS2 release, councils decided 300,645 applications. 261,678 were granted and 38,967 were refused, giving a national approval rate of 87% for the period.

Use this as a planning-risk signal, not as a prediction for a specific proposal. Individual outcomes still turn on the local plan, site constraints, drawings, consultation responses, officer judgement and material planning considerations.

Highest approval rates

Fareham98% from 595 decisions
Hammersmith and Fulham97.2% from 1,401 decisions
North Kesteven97.2% from 637 decisions
Cumberland96.8% from 1,146 decisions
Redcar and Cleveland96.7% from 425 decisions

Lowest approval rates

Epping Forest66.1% from 1,350 decisions
Barking and Dagenham66.2% from 713 decisions
Hounslow68.3% from 1,284 decisions
Windsor and Maidenhead68.9% from 1,576 decisions
Gravesham71.6% from 627 decisions

Most decisions

Cornwall4,956 decisions, 92.6% approved
Westminster4,828 decisions, 86.1% approved
North Yorkshire4,687 decisions, 89.5% approved
Buckinghamshire4,436 decisions, 83.5% approved
Somerset3,851 decisions, 89% approved

Every council ranked by planning approval rate

Search by council or region. Click a column heading to sort.


1	Fareham South East - E07000087	595	583	12	98%	98.8%	228
2	Hammersmith and Fulham London - E09000013	1,401	1,362	39	97.2%	94.7%	223
3	North Kesteven East Midlands - E07000139	637	619	18	97.2%	97.5%	399
4	Cumberland North West - E06000063	1,146	1,109	37	96.8%	72.1%	182
5	Redcar and Cleveland North East - E06000003	425	411	14	96.7%	88.5%	111
6	Cheltenham South West - E07000078	1,021	985	36	96.5%	93.3%	692
7	Mansfield East Midlands - E07000174	304	293	11	96.4%	95.4%	223
8	Bolsover East Midlands - E07000033	294	283	11	96.3%	99.7%	126
9	City of London London - E09000001	448	431	17	96.2%	96%	521
10	Redditch West Midlands - E07000236	159	153	6	96.2%	89.9%	91
11	North Tyneside North East - E08000022	648	622	26	96%	99.2%	561
12	Amber Valley East Midlands - E07000032	690	660	30	95.7%	99%	77
13	Fylde North West - E07000119	421	403	18	95.7%	96.9%	71
14	South Tyneside North East - E08000023	376	360	16	95.7%	97.3%	43
15	Norwich East of England - E07000148	546	522	24	95.6%	86.1%	347
16	Vale of White Horse South East - E07000180	986	942	44	95.5%	95.5%	131
17	Rushmoor South East - E07000092	313	299	14	95.5%	95.5%	224
18	Tamworth West Midlands - E07000199	155	148	7	95.5%	92.9%	67
19	North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000012	468	446	22	95.3%	98.9%	270
20	Melton East Midlands - E07000133	293	279	14	95.2%	80.5%	218
21	Stockport North West - E08000007	1,293	1,229	64	95.1%	98.6%	299
22	Lincoln East Midlands - E07000138	329	313	16	95.1%	87.5%	77
23	Nuneaton and Bedworth West Midlands - E07000219	301	286	15	95%	98.3%	43
24	Halton North West - E06000006	255	242	13	94.9%	98%	188
25	Ebbsfleet Development Corporation South East - E51000003	39	37	2	94.9%	97.4%	31
26	Bath and North East Somerset South West - E06000022	1,835	1,739	96	94.8%	79.5%	466
27	West Oxfordshire South East - E07000181	1,147	1,087	60	94.8%	96.9%	876
28	Wokingham South East - E06000041	1,132	1,072	60	94.7%	99.1%	254
29	South Ribble North West - E07000126	411	389	22	94.6%	96.4%	315
30	Northumberland National Park National Parks - E26000004	37	35	2	94.6%	100%	1,812
31	Bromsgrove West Midlands - E07000234	477	451	26	94.5%	89.7%	404
32	South Oxfordshire South East - E07000179	1,522	1,437	85	94.4%	91.3%	164
33	Mid Devon South West - E07000042	675	637	38	94.4%	95%	317
34	Blackburn with Darwen North West - E06000008	500	472	28	94.4%	100%	69
35	North York Moors National Park National Parks - E26000005	462	436	26	94.4%	85.9%	41
36	North West Leicestershire East Midlands - E07000134	540	509	31	94.3%	85.6%	418
37	Hartlepool North East - E06000001	229	216	13	94.3%	99.6%	34
38	Gosport South East - E07000088	243	229	14	94.2%	92.6%	145
39	Solihull West Midlands - E08000029	1,185	1,115	70	94.1%	86.1%	674
40	Tonbridge and Malling South East - E07000115	891	838	53	94.1%	87.2%	445
41	North Norfolk East of England - E07000147	877	825	52	94.1%	93.7%	804
42	Erewash East Midlands - E07000036	389	366	23	94.1%	84.3%	65
43	The Broads Authority National Parks - E26000007	102	96	6	94.1%	96.1%	92
44	South Norfolk East of England - E07000149	1,050	987	63	94%	90.8%	211
45	Stockton-on-Tees North East - E06000004	618	581	37	94%	92.1%	437
46	Havant South East - E07000090	419	394	25	94%	85.9%	266
47	Stevenage East of England - E07000243	266	250	16	94%	94%	220
48	St. Helens North West - E08000013	495	465	30	93.9%	99.6%	245
49	North Devon South West - E07000043	963	903	60	93.8%	97.2%	74
50	South Derbyshire East Midlands - E07000039	599	562	37	93.8%	90%	55
51	County Durham North East - E06000047	1,693	1,586	107	93.7%	89.8%	1,005
52	Tunbridge Wells South East - E07000116	1,217	1,139	78	93.6%	96.1%	934
53	Herefordshire, County of West Midlands - E06000019	1,389	1,299	90	93.5%	81%	0
54	Newcastle-under-Lyme West Midlands - E07000195	479	448	31	93.5%	95.4%	381
55	Canterbury South East - E07000106	978	913	65	93.4%	80.6%	242
56	Barnsley Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000038	647	604	43	93.4%	79.4%	72
57	Rugby West Midlands - E07000220	513	479	34	93.4%	84.8%	259
58	Knowsley North West - E08000011	316	295	21	93.4%	93.7%	223
59	Cherwell South East - E07000177	1,082	1,009	73	93.3%	80.3%	49
60	Sefton North West - E08000014	991	925	66	93.3%	98%	596
61	Winchester South East - E07000094	961	897	64	93.3%	92.2%	664
62	Worthing South East - E07000229	563	525	38	93.3%	93.4%	104
63	North Warwickshire West Midlands - E07000218	375	350	25	93.3%	82.9%	43
64	Cheshire West and Chester North West - E06000050	1,688	1,572	116	93.1%	92%	909
65	Wiltshire South West - E06000054	3,734	3,474	260	93%	94.5%	315
66	Kensington and Chelsea London - E09000020	2,381	2,215	166	93%	96.1%	0
67	Chorley North West - E07000118	570	530	40	93%	97%	426
68	Broxtowe East Midlands - E07000172	501	466	35	93%	96.8%	242
69	East Lindsey East Midlands - E07000137	818	760	58	92.9%	86.4%	232
70	Wyre Forest West Midlands - E07000239	448	416	32	92.9%	95.8%	373
71	Plymouth South West - E06000026	677	628	49	92.8%	96.6%	621
72	Cornwall South West - E06000052	4,956	4,589	367	92.6%	94.5%	1,884
73	South Cambridgeshire East of England - E07000012	1,516	1,404	112	92.6%	91.1%	524
74	Broadland East of England - E07000144	772	715	57	92.6%	92.6%	984
75	North Hertfordshire East of England - E07000099	1,071	991	80	92.5%	86%	821
76	Test Valley South East - E07000093	1,015	939	76	92.5%	92.8%	818
77	Hertsmere East of England - E07000098	749	693	56	92.5%	91.6%	608
78	West Lindsey East Midlands - E07000142	562	520	42	92.5%	97.2%	72
79	East Staffordshire West Midlands - E07000193	558	516	42	92.5%	83.3%	67
80	Exmoor National Park National Parks - E26000002	161	149	12	92.5%	98.8%	48
81	Gedling East Midlands - E07000173	458	423	35	92.4%	90.2%	247
82	Newcastle upon Tyne North East - E08000021	910	840	70	92.3%	83.3%	0
83	Forest of Dean South West - E07000080	596	550	46	92.3%	92.6%	354
84	Ipswich East of England - E07000202	442	408	34	92.3%	98.4%	182
85	Adur South East - E07000223	310	286	24	92.3%	95.8%	104
86	East Suffolk East of England - E07000244	1,992	1,836	156	92.2%	82.7%	1,423
87	Westmorland and Furness North West - E06000064	1,223	1,128	95	92.2%	91.6%	45
88	Wakefield Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000036	1,086	999	87	92%	91.8%	673
89	Yorkshire Dales National Park National Parks - E26000012	450	414	36	92%	82%	154
90	New Forest National Park National Parks - E26000009	468	430	38	91.9%	74.1%	592
91	South Downs National Park National Parks - E26000010	1,656	1,521	135	91.8%	90.9%	1,197
92	Great Yarmouth East of England - E07000145	376	345	31	91.8%	96.8%	136
93	Kirklees Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000034	1,719	1,574	145	91.6%	90.9%	211
94	Medway South East - E06000035	1,025	939	86	91.6%	96.6%	704
95	Southampton South East - E06000045	748	685	63	91.6%	90.4%	415
96	Basingstoke and Deane South East - E07000084	1,066	975	91	91.5%	84.5%	620
97	Kingston upon Hull, City of Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000010	412	377	35	91.5%	80.3%	0
98	Southwark London - E09000028	1,589	1,452	137	91.4%	94.6%	1,146
99	Isles of Scilly South West - E06000053	58	53	5	91.4%	86.2%	0
100	Lake District National Park National Parks - E26000011	795	726	69	91.3%	85%	348
101	North East Derbyshire East Midlands - E07000038	516	471	45	91.3%	92.8%	253
102	Mid Sussex South East - E07000228	1,104	1,007	97	91.2%	97.4%	806
103	Isle of Wight South East - E06000046	821	749	72	91.2%	95.4%	654
104	West Suffolk East of England - E07000245	1,042	948	94	91%	85.3%	708
105	Derby East Midlands - E06000015	937	853	84	91%	88.4%	495
106	Newark and Sherwood East Midlands - E07000175	746	679	67	91%	90.6%	638
107	Sunderland North East - E08000024	578	526	52	91%	96.4%	422
108	Islington London - E09000019	1,451	1,319	132	90.9%	95.9%	225
109	Cambridge East of England - E07000008	1,034	940	94	90.9%	92.1%	1,684
110	Boston East Midlands - E07000136	308	280	28	90.9%	87%	29
111	Rushcliffe East Midlands - E07000176	785	713	72	90.8%	88.4%	503
112	Blaby East Midlands - E07000129	491	446	45	90.8%	91.6%	328
113	Dorset South West - E06000059	2,785	2,527	258	90.7%	91.4%	220
114	Stratford-on-Avon West Midlands - E07000221	1,287	1,166	121	90.6%	89.6%	156
115	Huntingdonshire East of England - E07000011	1,053	954	99	90.6%	93.7%	925
116	New Forest South East - E07000091	912	826	86	90.6%	95.2%	592
117	Preston North West - E07000123	682	617	65	90.5%	93.8%	50
118	Lewes South East - E07000063	411	372	39	90.5%	82.2%	172
119	West Berkshire South East - E06000037	1,141	1,031	110	90.4%	89.9%	813
120	Dover South East - E07000108	784	709	75	90.4%	90.3%	590
121	Gateshead North East - E08000037	468	423	45	90.4%	88.9%	240
122	Telford and Wrekin West Midlands - E06000020	593	535	58	90.2%	99.8%	102
123	Darlington North East - E06000005	451	407	44	90.2%	92.5%	348
124	Hartlepool Development Corporation North East - E51000007	41	37	4	90.2%	82.9%	0
125	South Kesteven East Midlands - E07000141	980	883	97	90.1%	86.1%	554
126	West Northamptonshire East Midlands - E06000062	1,812	1,630	182	90%	87.4%	92
127	Warwick West Midlands - E07000222	939	845	94	90%	93.9%	563
128	Cannock Chase West Midlands - E07000192	247	222	25	89.9%	94.7%	111
129	Horsham South East - E07000227	1,259	1,131	128	89.8%	94%	925
130	Eastbourne South East - E07000061	315	283	32	89.8%	83.2%	174
131	Hastings South East - E07000062	339	304	35	89.7%	97.1%	211
132	Wandsworth London - E09000032	2,141	1,919	222	89.6%	90.3%	210
133	Harborough East Midlands - E07000131	819	734	85	89.6%	76.2%	601
134	North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000065	4,687	4,193	494	89.5%	86.7%	289
135	Bexley London - E09000004	1,314	1,176	138	89.5%	97.4%	683
136	Chichester South East - E07000225	929	831	98	89.5%	97.1%	504
137	Salford North West - E08000006	783	701	82	89.5%	95%	106
138	Swale South East - E07000113	678	607	71	89.5%	94.5%	332
139	Camden London - E09000007	1,969	1,761	208	89.4%	90.6%	99
140	East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000011	1,878	1,679	199	89.4%	98.2%	302
141	King's Lynn and West Norfolk East of England - E07000146	1,202	1,073	129	89.3%	93.5%	0
142	Swindon South West - E06000030	772	689	83	89.2%	88.1%	170
143	Eastleigh South East - E07000086	536	478	58	89.2%	93.1%	67
144	Derbyshire Dales East Midlands - E07000035	498	444	54	89.2%	76.9%	403
145	Nottingham East Midlands - E06000018	966	861	105	89.1%	76.5%	553
146	Three Rivers East of England - E07000102	853	760	93	89.1%	98.6%	538
147	Somerset South West - E06000066	3,851	3,429	422	89%	86%	476
148	East Devon South West - E07000040	1,323	1,177	146	89%	80.2%	971
149	Cotswold South West - E07000079	1,287	1,146	141	89%	90.3%	1,080
150	Dacorum East of England - E07000096	1,137	1,012	125	89%	82.3%	231
151	Chesterfield East Midlands - E07000034	327	291	36	89%	86.2%	271
152	Middlesbrough Development Corporation North East - E51000006	82	73	9	89%	84.1%	0
153	Thanet South East - E07000114	773	687	86	88.9%	83.3%	417
154	Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation London - E51000002	54	48	6	88.9%	98.1%	46
155	South Hams South West - E07000044	1,050	932	118	88.8%	92.8%	60
156	Northumberland North East - E06000057	1,923	1,705	218	88.7%	92.1%	1,812
157	Brighton and Hove South East - E06000043	1,710	1,517	193	88.7%	82.3%	228
158	Wolverhampton West Midlands - E08000031	811	719	92	88.7%	98.4%	370
159	Sutton London - E09000029	901	796	105	88.3%	95.3%	500
160	East Hampshire South East - E07000085	583	515	68	88.3%	87%	50
161	Rossendale North West - E07000125	231	204	27	88.3%	91.3%	152
162	Mid Suffolk East of England - E07000203	904	797	107	88.2%	94.9%	0
163	Oldham North West - E08000004	875	772	103	88.2%	92.2%	374
164	Rother South East - E07000064	780	688	92	88.2%	91%	42
165	Tewkesbury South West - E07000083	718	633	85	88.2%	88.9%	127
166	Hinckley and Bosworth East Midlands - E07000132	484	427	57	88.2%	79.8%	464
167	North Somerset South West - E06000024	1,148	1,010	138	88%	85.8%	871
168	Sandwell West Midlands - E08000028	935	821	114	87.8%	97%	163
169	Merton London - E09000024	1,126	987	139	87.7%	91.7%	501
170	Burnley North West - E07000117	300	263	37	87.7%	94%	220
171	Bury North West - E08000002	777	681	96	87.6%	99.6%	477
172	Welwyn Hatfield East of England - E07000241	630	552	78	87.6%	95.1%	307
173	Reigate and Banstead South East - E07000211	1,027	898	129	87.4%	92.5%	868
174	Waverley South East - E07000216	1,377	1,202	175	87.3%	95.4%	178
175	Stroud South West - E07000082	1,019	890	129	87.3%	95.9%	478
176	Stafford West Midlands - E07000197	487	425	62	87.3%	68.8%	237
177	Manchester North West - E08000003	1,813	1,581	232	87.2%	93%	1,105
178	Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000039	1,765	1,539	226	87.2%	88.6%	770
179	Ashford South East - E07000105	1,007	878	129	87.2%	95.6%	91
180	Portsmouth South East - E06000044	624	544	80	87.2%	95.8%	354
181	Chelmsford East of England - E07000070	1,291	1,125	166	87.1%	89.2%	750
182	Sevenoaks South East - E07000111	1,193	1,039	154	87.1%	94%	843
183	Shropshire West Midlands - E06000051	2,039	1,774	265	87%	91.7%	1,261
184	Fenland East of England - E07000010	599	521	78	87%	93.7%	103
185	Tameside North West - E08000008	569	495	74	87%	96.1%	374
186	Rutland East Midlands - E06000017	509	443	66	87%	98.8%	439
187	Cheshire East North West - E06000049	2,460	2,137	323	86.9%	85.8%	51
188	Wirral North West - E08000015	932	810	122	86.9%	93.9%	127
189	East Cambridgeshire East of England - E07000009	725	630	95	86.9%	94.1%	487
190	Wigan North West - E08000010	712	618	94	86.8%	95.9%	528
191	Maldon East of England - E07000074	394	342	52	86.8%	87.6%	331
192	Dartmoor National Park National Parks - E26000001	310	269	41	86.8%	93.2%	52
193	Oxford South East - E07000178	1,132	981	151	86.7%	89.1%	432
194	South Staffordshire West Midlands - E07000196	587	509	78	86.7%	98.5%	394
195	Torridge South West - E07000046	562	487	75	86.7%	96.4%	378
196	Milton Keynes South East - E06000042	1,290	1,117	173	86.6%	92.5%	152
197	Charnwood East Midlands - E07000130	837	725	112	86.6%	89.7%	192
198	Babergh East of England - E07000200	835	722	113	86.5%	94.3%	368
199	Peak District National Park National Parks - E26000006	547	473	74	86.5%	92.1%	134
200	Braintree East of England - E07000067	917	792	125	86.4%	95.6%	292
201	Bassetlaw East Midlands - E07000171	556	480	76	86.3%	80.2%	392
202	Bracknell Forest South East - E06000036	524	452	72	86.3%	89.7%	187
203	High Peak East Midlands - E07000037	354	305	49	86.2%	94.1%	36
204	Westminster London - E09000033	4,828	4,159	669	86.1%	84.1%	1,895
205	Doncaster Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000017	913	786	127	86.1%	89.4%	694
206	Bristol, City of South West - E06000023	2,112	1,817	295	86%	87.4%	0
207	Trafford North West - E08000009	1,451	1,248	203	86%	93%	332
208	North Northamptonshire East Midlands - E06000061	1,155	993	162	86%	86.5%	120
209	Walsall West Midlands - E08000030	852	733	119	86%	93.3%	249
210	North Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000013	720	619	101	86%	86%	30
211	Pendle North West - E07000122	436	375	61	86%	87.4%	229
212	St Albans East of England - E07000240	1,375	1,180	195	85.8%	88.8%	884
213	Wychavon West Midlands - E07000238	1,076	923	153	85.8%	90.8%	51
214	Stoke-on-Trent West Midlands - E06000021	420	360	60	85.7%	95.7%	50
215	Coventry West Midlands - E08000026	1,226	1,050	176	85.6%	99.2%	51
216	Arun South East - E07000224	784	671	113	85.6%	96.6%	288
217	Torbay South West - E06000027	533	456	77	85.6%	81.4%	92
218	Tendring East of England - E07000076	832	711	121	85.5%	89.2%	417
219	Ashfield East Midlands - E07000170	414	354	60	85.5%	82.9%	219
220	Worcester West Midlands - E07000237	406	347	59	85.5%	97.8%	47
221	Epsom and Ewell South East - E07000208	631	539	92	85.4%	94.3%	457
222	Haringey London - E09000014	1,414	1,206	208	85.3%	93.1%	188
223	Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000032	2,330	1,985	345	85.2%	82.8%	1,422
224	Ealing London - E09000009	1,835	1,563	272	85.2%	95.3%	1,942
225	Exeter South West - E07000041	559	476	83	85.2%	85.5%	215
226	Wyre North West - E07000128	563	478	85	84.9%	94.5%	333
227	Broxbourne East of England - E07000095	477	405	72	84.9%	88.7%	120
228	Rochdale North West - E08000005	638	541	97	84.8%	93.9%	277
229	Lewisham London - E09000023	1,379	1,167	212	84.6%	94.9%	1,010
230	Calderdale Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000033	877	742	135	84.6%	94.2%	321
231	Tandridge South East - E07000215	709	600	109	84.6%	94.1%	72
232	Guildford South East - E07000209	1,316	1,112	204	84.5%	89.4%	827
233	West Devon South West - E07000047	355	300	55	84.5%	93.2%	104
234	Wealden South East - E07000065	1,401	1,183	218	84.4%	94.1%	56
235	Basildon East of England - E07000066	781	658	123	84.3%	81.7%	553
236	Surrey Heath South East - E07000214	632	533	99	84.3%	88%	548
237	Reading South East - E06000038	635	534	101	84.1%	85.7%	83
238	Breckland East of England - E07000143	799	671	128	84%	89.7%	162
239	Liverpool North West - E08000012	1,323	1,110	213	83.9%	91.2%	795
240	Hillingdon London - E09000017	1,703	1,427	276	83.8%	93.1%	161
241	York Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000014	1,243	1,040	203	83.7%	88.8%	961
242	Lancaster North West - E07000121	728	609	119	83.7%	90.8%	582
243	Central Bedfordshire East of England - E06000056	1,482	1,239	243	83.6%	96%	264
244	Peterborough East of England - E06000031	706	590	116	83.6%	82.7%	503
245	Buckinghamshire South East - E06000060	4,436	3,702	734	83.5%	82.5%	3,172
246	Leeds Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000035	3,649	3,043	606	83.4%	90.3%	2,457
247	Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole South West - E06000058	2,150	1,790	360	83.3%	82.7%	0
248	Brentwood East of England - E07000068	742	618	124	83.3%	94.3%	101
249	Dudley West Midlands - E08000027	740	616	124	83.2%	95.1%	52
250	Ribble Valley North West - E07000124	533	442	91	82.9%	88.6%	27
251	Malvern Hills West Midlands - E07000235	720	596	124	82.8%	91.5%	46
252	Folkestone and Hythe South East - E07000112	756	625	131	82.7%	98.3%	78
253	Birmingham West Midlands - E08000025	3,533	2,920	613	82.6%	75.4%	857
254	Runnymede South East - E07000212	720	595	125	82.6%	96.3%	115
255	West Lancashire North West - E07000127	578	477	101	82.5%	89.3%	486
256	Leicester East Midlands - E06000016	1,149	946	203	82.3%	83.1%	82
257	Teignbridge South West - E07000045	729	599	130	82.2%	95.3%	602
258	Blackpool North West - E06000009	349	287	62	82.2%	86.5%	161
259	Maidstone South East - E07000110	1,125	922	203	82%	97.5%	1,219
260	South Gloucestershire South West - E06000025	1,561	1,278	283	81.9%	86.1%	992
261	South Holland East Midlands - E07000140	588	480	108	81.6%	96.1%	72
262	Hackney London - E09000012	1,345	1,096	249	81.5%	89.2%	0
263	Newham London - E09000025	1,143	931	212	81.5%	89.5%	665
264	Harlow East of England - E07000073	275	224	51	81.5%	92%	188
265	Bedford East of England - E06000055	1,031	839	192	81.4%	86.5%	189
266	Southend-on-Sea East of England - E06000033	901	733	168	81.4%	99.4%	161
267	Thurrock East of England - E06000034	711	579	132	81.4%	98%	480
268	Tower Hamlets London - E09000030	1,036	841	195	81.2%	92%	740
269	Hart South East - E07000089	734	594	140	80.9%	92.8%	540
270	Crawley South East - E07000226	220	178	42	80.9%	96.4%	63
271	Bolton North West - E08000001	981	790	191	80.5%	85.9%	606
272	Spelthorne South East - E07000213	668	538	130	80.5%	97.6%	308
273	Gloucester South West - E07000081	431	347	84	80.5%	90%	76
274	Richmond upon Thames London - E09000027	1,916	1,533	383	80%	96.1%	0
275	Staffordshire Moorlands West Midlands - E07000198	419	335	84	80%	95.2%	45
276	Lambeth London - E09000022	1,725	1,378	347	79.9%	94.7%	1,157
277	Rotherham Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000018	777	621	156	79.9%	100%	117
278	East Hertfordshire East of England - E07000242	1,218	972	246	79.8%	94.5%	769
279	Lichfield West Midlands - E07000194	718	572	146	79.7%	96.1%	325
280	Dartford South East - E07000107	592	472	120	79.7%	89%	460
281	Colchester East of England - E07000071	1,059	843	216	79.6%	97.5%	200
282	Woking South East - E07000217	748	595	153	79.5%	83.4%	532
283	Brent London - E09000005	2,022	1,600	422	79.1%	95.5%	1,213
284	Watford East of England - E07000103	522	413	109	79.1%	84.7%	81
285	Enfield London - E09000010	1,989	1,568	421	78.8%	84.6%	1,352
286	Harrow London - E09000015	1,316	1,029	287	78.2%	91.2%	60
287	Greenwich London - E09000011	1,487	1,154	333	77.6%	90.5%	1,229
288	Rochford East of England - E07000075	477	370	107	77.6%	73.8%	164
289	Hyndburn North West - E07000120	252	195	57	77.4%	86.9%	50
290	Castle Point East of England - E07000069	429	331	98	77.2%	99.3%	242
291	Middlesbrough North East - E06000002	316	244	72	77.2%	91.1%	148
292	Slough South East - E06000039	637	491	146	77.1%	76.1%	359
293	Uttlesford East of England - E07000077	1,261	968	293	76.8%	87.6%	861
294	Barnet London - E09000003	2,539	1,940	599	76.4%	95.8%	1,834
295	Elmbridge South East - E07000207	1,327	1,013	314	76.3%	92.5%	277
296	Luton East of England - E06000032	721	550	171	76.3%	97.5%	386
297	Warrington North West - E06000007	901	687	214	76.2%	94.9%	120
298	Bromley London - E09000006	2,171	1,638	533	75.4%	83.8%	430
299	Croydon London - E09000008	1,582	1,190	392	75.2%	91.5%	993
300	Kingston upon Thames London - E09000021	1,151	864	287	75.1%	87.9%	714
301	Waltham Forest London - E09000031	1,332	991	341	74.4%	83.6%	105
302	Redbridge London - E09000026	1,711	1,266	445	74%	91.9%	361
303	Mole Valley South East - E07000210	1,025	748	277	73%	78%	239
304	Havering London - E09000016	1,476	1,075	401	72.8%	96.7%	152
305	Oadby and Wigston East Midlands - E07000135	279	200	79	71.7%	94.3%	139
306	Gravesham South East - E07000109	627	449	178	71.6%	96.3%	461
307	Windsor and Maidenhead South East - E06000040	1,576	1,086	490	68.9%	92.4%	1,153
308	Hounslow London - E09000018	1,284	877	407	68.3%	95.6%	202
309	Barking and Dagenham London - E09000002	713	472	241	66.2%	100%	60
310	Epping Forest East of England - E07000072	1,350	893	457	66.1%	93.6%	333

Swipe the table sideways for every column.

Methodology

PlanWatch downloaded the MHCLG PS2 district planning application statistics last-four-quarters CSV and aggregated quarterly rows by local planning authority code.

Approval rate is calculated as total granted divided by total decisions. Refusal rate is total refused divided by total decisions. In-time rate combines MHCLG's in-time decision counts for non-Planning Agreement and Planning Agreement rows, then divides by total decisions.

PlanWatch tracked-application counts are added from the PlanWatch database to show where we have current live-portal coverage, but they are not used to calculate official approval rates.

Official sources

MHCLG live tables on planning application statistics - official local planning authority datasets and supporting documents.
District planning application statistics PS2 last four quarters CSV - the source file used for this ranking.
GOV.UK planning applications statistics collection - quarterly official statistics releases.
Planning Portal decision timing guidance - general context on typical decision periods.

Why this UK report is England-led

PlanWatch tracks planning portals across the UK, but the official council-by-council approval-rate ranking here uses MHCLG's England district planning authority dataset because it is the latest comparable open table for local authority decision outcomes. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish planning statistics through separate statistical systems, periods and definitions, so blending them into one UK rate would be misleading.

Frequently asked questions

Is this really a 2026 approval-rate report?

Yes. The latest official MHCLG live table available when generated was updated on 7 April 2026 and covers 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

Does this cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The ranking uses England district planning authority data because that is the comparable MHCLG PS2 dataset. PlanWatch tracks planning portals across the UK, but this official approval-rate table is England-only.

Why does my council's PlanWatch page show different numbers?

The report uses official decision statistics. PlanWatch council pages show live public-register applications and nearby postcode search coverage. Those are different datasets with different purposes.